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Abstract

Thermoelectric generation requires large amounts of water for cooling. Recent warm periods have led to curtailments in generation, highlighting concerns about security of supply. Here we assess EU-wide climate impacts for 1,326 individual thermoelectric plants and 818 water basins in 2020 and 2030. We show that, despite policy goals and a decrease in electricity-related water withdrawal, the number of regions experiencing some reduction in power availability due to water stress rises from 47 basins to 54 basins between 2014 and 2030, with further plants planned for construction in stressed basins. We examine the reasons for these pressures by including water demand for other uses. The majority of vulnerable basins lie in the Mediterranean region, with further basins in France, Germany and Poland. We investigate four adaptations, finding that increased future seawater cooling eases some pressures. This highlights the need for an integrated, basin-level approach in energy and water policy.

Joint Research Centre. Analysis of Energy Saving Potentials in Energy Generation: Final Results (Institute for Energy and Transport at the European Commission, 2012); http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.2790/58574

Macknick, J., Sattler, S., Averyt, K., Clemmer, S. & Rogers, J.The water implications of generating electricity: water use across the United States based on different electricity pathways through 2050. Environ. Res. Lett.7, 045803 (2012).

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Contributions

P.B. designed the study and performed analysis. M.T.H.v.V. provided specific data and input on drafting. J.F.D.R. assisted with the analysis. T.N. assisted in preparing the data set of power plants. P.B. drafted the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the manuscript.